Offer is valid for one guest per table, with a minimum party of two. Guests must show proof of age; offer is non-transferable and non-refundable.
Your sweet and savory tea tower includes:
BBQ pork brioche buns, curried tofu and almond wraps, duck spring rolls, and smoked salmon bagels with yuzu mayonnaise. In addition to afternoon tea classics like butter and orange infused scones, with housemade clotted cream and a selection of jams, sweets include coconut rice cake – a twist on the traditional Nian Gao, egg tarts, black sesame rice balls in ginger soup, and green tea opera cake.
Years of the Horse: 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990 and 2002
I was invited with several other passionate foodies to preview Milestones Summer Chef Tasting Menu. 6 dishes paired with 6 wines from Constellation Wines.
Milestones have really stepped up their game. Within the past 8 months, Chef Russo and his Culinary Team have created and launched around 15 new menu items with another 10 rolling out in the coming months.
Their efforts to be more food driven has really revitalized their menu and speaks volume to the creativity and quality of the dishes on their menu. Now don’t scoff, I realize being a chain with over 50 restaurants across the country usually does not go hand in hand with culinary creativity. I used to be one of those people, chain restaurants would be the last place I think about going to. In fact, I might have used the term “fah-’actus” once or twice on Food Persuasion.
**Personal note** I’ve f’g accidentally deleted the folder containing pictures from my Milestone dinner from my drive and it’s disappeared. Ack! I’m still sore about this. I was going batty, the pictures were awesome. Enough bitching…getting over it, back to Milestones.
I sat beside Chris Meeds, Milestones Regional Manager, past Milestone’s Chef and, he said something that really peaked my foodie interest. Generally, the menu is the same throughout the chain but, each Chef is encouraged to give their own personal spin to it. They are local, they know their patron’s palette, know what they like, fostering culinary creativity and experimentation. “You are a chef, so be a chef” was the advice Chef Russo gave to Chris when he was a Milestone’s Chef.
Their drinks menu will be the next to roll out. Keep an eye for some delicious craft beers and, local wine on tap.
About Milestone’s private dining room in Yaletown, it is gorgeous. I don’t know why I never think to throw dinner parties here. F’g, NO PICTURE
Crispy quinoa shrimp with chimichurri aioli and vegetable slaw. The quinoa is raw, washed with egg and then quickly deep-fried. So instead of the crispy, greasy texture you get with battered almost anything, this is crunchy. A creative use of quinoa, the chimichurri aioli, was delicious. I would have loved it more if the quinoa battered didn’t fall apart once you cut into it.
Panko Blue Crab Cakes, the batter was too overwhelming, the filling itself was decent but a very typical dish. I guess the menu has to include the staples to satisfy the non adventurous palettes.
Spicy Thai Basil Stirfry, rice noodles, shrimp and coconut milk. Alright, show me a chain restaurant that does Asian cuisine well? One of their more popular dishes, I didn’t expect it to be authentic. Overall this was good, the sauce was a little too gluttony for my liking but the flavours were great. It’s a western take on a classic Thai dish.
Grilled Japanese Tuna Tataki, with asparagus and fennel slaw, topped with mandarin dressing. Bravo Milestones for stepping above and beyond to ensure the quality of the tuna is superb. It is cured in-house, which makes a big difference in flavor, then lightly seared for a nice carmalization. It was perfectly cooked, a second over, it would have been over cooked. It was prepared so well it looked like it was sous-vide, with very fine charred rim. The Tuna tataki was my favourite dish of the night.
Surf and Turf, a duo grilled flat-iron and lobster fricassee. Mmmm lobster fricassee was amazingly decadent, served with a tempura battered onion ring. People tend to forget about the quality of the flat-iron steak, very flavourful. You could also upgrade to the striploin or sirloin.
WTH! Not on the menu yet but, they definitely should add it. Never a huge fan of tarts, Milestones, Avocado and lime tart sitting on a bed of bourbon pecan chutney and topped with Tequilla Chantilly cream. Holy shit! Yea, that’s all I have to say. Paired with Inniskillin Riesling Ice Wine.
BAM! Awesome end to the night.
Wine reviews to come….it’ll be epic
Hapa Izakaya version 4.0. By now Vancouverites should be very familiar with Japanese tapas. Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour formerly known as Hapa Umi, is popular amongst the after work crowd just happy to relax with cheap food and drinks.
Hapa Izakaya Coal Harbour used to be a upscale hapa but, I guess Vancouverites got so used to Hapa’s original menu and prices that it just did not fly. Now they have a menu very similar to all the other Hapa’s
Happy Hour Details:
3- 6 PM
Monday to Friday
Everything on the Happy Hour menu including the house wine and beer is under $5. I know UNDER $5!!!
Now the food…
Starting with my favourite dish the Ika, grilled squid, sake soy garlic marinade. The smoky flavour really came through. It was cooked perfectly, the texture was still crunchy.
Ebi Mayo, was overcooked and the batter was too thick.
Chicken Karaage, it was juicy and tender on the inside but the outside was not as crispy as I would have liked
Beef tataki, lacked flavor, I’m not a big fan of any dish squirted with a thick blob of chilli sauce.
Rennkon Gyoza, minced pork layered with lotus root and tempura. This was surprisingly nice, the lotus root added a crunchy texture.
Overall, it stood a little above pub food but, the atmosphere and service was so fun. The servers were hot. We sat in a booth so I was eye level with the server’s busty boobs. I couldn’t help staring at them, they were everywhere. It may be raunchy but, take it as it is, Hapa Izakaya doesn’t claim to be a Michelin star restaurant, it’s more along the lines of Cactus Club. If you are complaining about girls and guys flaunting their bodies (I might add, it wasn’t distasteful) go somewhere else.
Sample a bunch of different restaurants all in one go. Restaurants, wineries and breweries participating will charge a low price for their food and beverages (maximum price is $4.00).
Eat Vancouver Participating Restaurants:
BELLA GELATERIA
BLACK + BLUE
COAST
DONA CATA MEXICAN RESTAURANT & TAQUERIA
EBO RESTAURANT
FRANKIE’S ITALIAN KITCHEN & BAR
GLOWBAL
GOLDILOCKS
GRAMERCY GRILL
ITALIAN KITCHEN
MAURYA INDIAN CUISINE
MOCHIKAS PERUVIAN CAFE
NEW INDIA BUFFET + RESTAURANT LTD
NOODLE BOX, THE
ORGANIC LIVES
SALMON N’ BANNOCK
SANAFIR
SOCIETY
TRATTORIA
Xi Shi Lounge Offers Free Afternoon Tea to Celebrate Chinese New Year
Image source: OpenTable
